The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1887-05-13
Tho Ashev,llo and spartanburg Over hauled,
THE Nrws AND COURIER BUREAu, I
lGl MAIN ST., COLUMBIA, May 4.


upon special train at $50 this morning, to in
vestgate the operations of the Spartanburg and
Ashevile Railroad The special train was
provided by Superintendent Talcott, of the
Charlotte, Columbia and Augusta, and Colum-
bia and Grccnville Railroads COL John c.
Haskell counsel for the Richmond and Dan
vile lines in South Carolina, was upon the
special train AMI the party was completed by
Mr.. Is. {. SiOan Of the Augusta Chronicle, and
n representativ. Of The Ne,cs and Courier
Tho whoe party was entertained by Super
intcndcnt Talcott. After rather warm ride
the train arrived in Spartauburg at 1890.
Commissioner Duncan, having boarded the
special ut Union, n delegation from the Spar
tanburg Board Of Trade met the commissioner
Mt the s'atiou, and the party was escorted to
the hall of the Board of Trade of that city.
Railroad Commissioner Jervey reinforced the
commission at IL o'clock having arrived from
his home nt Flat Rock, N. G. About forty per-
sons were assembled in the Board of Trade
rooms. they represented the citizens Of Union,
Spartanburg, Flat Rock, Henderson aud Ashe-
vile. The board begnn their investigation by
hearing The memorials from Spartanburg aud
Union.
The Sparianburg memorial represented that
Union County had voted Sl50,000 to the Ashe-
vile and Spartanburg Read, Spartanbnrg had
voted 100000, Anderson 100000 and Bun
combc County 100000, and what did they
&C: for their money ? nothing. This road was
NlCnmODd
and Danvi lie system.
About thirteen years ago the counties of
Union, Spartauburg, Henderson and Buncombc
made large subscriptions to build the road
After hard struggle it finished TO Hen
dersonvile. Then came the many futile Of
forts to extend the road from that point, and
when it was built the work was only half done.
showing that those who controlled it were OF
posed to its being put in good running order.
Since the roadbed has been put in good condi-
tion it is worth nothing except for local traffic
and travel. Ii has been very evident that
those in control had successfully bottled up the
road. Col. Andrews, of the Western North
Carolina, said to one Of our citizens some time
ago that he had gone to New York and pre-
vented the completion of the road for two
yeais. and, furthermore, he knew that every
dollars worth of through freight carried by
this road took two dollars from the Western
North Carolina Road. That shows the spirit
of tho controlling stockholders. There are
$40 shares of stock, of which the Richmond
and Terminal West Point Company owns 362.
Or the balance about $4,000 is owned in
Charleston, and 100000 in Georgia. The
other $4,000 is owned in Spartanburg. At
the annual meetings Of the stockholders Col.
r. \. McAden holds the proxies of the Rich
mond and Terminal Coml any, and of course
he controls the election of officers and every.
thing else Such has been the management Of
the road, and il seems to no the determination
Of the majority TO freeze out the minority, or
cripple the working Of the road so that it will
never pay dividend. If one in Spartanburg
desired load of lumber from Ashevile
sxty.c;gh; miles distant, it would be sent
around by Charlotte, and at three times the
cost on the short line.
The memorial from Union was practically
the same that from Spartanburg. These
memorials we're endorsed by S. Il. Keplcr for
the city of Ashevillc, J. l.. Hickman as mayor
and f,r the Of IIcnlorsnp
Price for tho village of Flat Rock Col. X. Y.
McAden, president of the Sparanburg and
Ashcviile Road, replied TO the memorials and
ADMITTED t &C, sveTylhnS ia thew to h. '.s. s'
saying that the system had been changing
hands SO often that they had not hnd the time
to look after this road, but at n late meeting
they had promised faithfully to fulf. an agree
mcnt made with the Asheville and Spartan
burg several years ago, and to give proper
freight and passenger rates over this road aud
to discriminate against it no longer.
Col. McAden thought that the commissioners
had frightened the management, and that they
were now ready to do what was right. He
thought that as they had acknowledged them
selves in the wrong the board Of commissioners
should give them thirty days to fulfil thoir
promises, and if at the end Of that tGc the
management had not done SO, to bring all the
law to bear upOn them and make them fulfil
their contract.
Col. Haskell then spoke. lie was there not
for the purpose Of representing the past, but
came TO represent the new management of
the Richmond and Danville. lie did net know
of his personal knowledge. but would admit
whatever President McAden said to be correct.
lie had simply to state that the new manage
ment proposed TO Immediately supply addi-
'ioral rolling stock for that road, adjust the
freight and passenger rates, and give it its
legitimate share of the business, and there
nj la rip,in IIn Al,
commission would not attempt to take any
more testimony or continue this investigation,
for when man pleaded guilty the taking Of
evidence was never continued. Mr.. Thomas,
superintendent of the Richmond and Danville,
would be responsible for the fulfilling of the
contract with this road. The change of owner
ship and the financial conditions of the Rich
mond and Danville had prevented them from
giving this road any attention before this time.
The memoria'ists then withdrew, and drew up
resolution 10 the effect that, as their accusa
tions had been admitted, they considered no
further testimony necessary, and the commits
sioncrs were requested to adjourn their invcs.
tigation for thirty days. Commissioner Bon
ham stated that the resolution would be con-
,idcrcd, and he adjourned the meeting sine
de-
Superintendent +. b. Thomas, of the Rich
mond and Danvilc system, Col. SOL Haas,
traffic manager, and V. L. McBee, superinten.
dent of the Western North Carolina Road, ar
rived in SpartanbuIg MS the commissioners ad-
journcd. Mr.. McBee was, later in the day,
appointed superintendent Of the Spartanburg
and Asheviile Road. The entire party seemed
very well satisfied with the arrangement. If
promises can he relied upon the stock holders
of the Spartanburg and Asheville Road will
have more grounds for complaint The
commission and all the railroad men dined at
the Hotel Windsor, and at $3.50 the special
train pulled out of the Spartan City.
IT TAKES TWO DAIIIEs TO TELL THE TRUTH.
II present comedy of guardianship over
ooch ,thcr' civ il heinz performed with suc-